New Faces, Same Story As Ravens Face Titans

BALTIMORE — An old rivalry will usher in a new era for the Baltimore Ravens today.

With only eight starters left from the Ravens' last playoff team, this AFC wild-card game against the Tennessee Titans seems more like a defining first step than a trip down memory lane.

While Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis remain the franchise's cornerstones, the youngest team in the playoffs is ready to make its own mark. The roles once held by Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson and Michael McCrary have been passed down to Todd Heap, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs.

What has not changed is the intensity of this feud or the Ravens' identity: a relentless running game teamed with an attack-dog defense.

"It's our time," cornerback Gary Baxter said. "Last year, we were so close to the playoffs. This year, it feels special. Now we have a chance to do something about it. Let's go for it."

History says the Ravens have the upper hand after winning five straight games over the Titans. But this postseason showdown is more about strengths than streaks.

Can Jamal Lewis, the NFL's leading rusher, crack the Titans' top-ranked run defense? Can Steve McNair, the league's top-rated quarterback, escape the Ravens' vaunted pass rush?

While Lewis has a dozen 100-yard games this season, Tennessee has allowed four 100-yard rushers in three years.

"You have to have the chin-strap buckled because it's going to be a dogfight," left guard Edwin Mulitalo said.

When asked what the Ravens can do to beat Tennessee's run defense, Ravens coach Brian Billick snapped back, "We are the No. 1 rushing offense. What do they have to do to stop us from running it down their throats?"

The Titans have faced a 1,200-yard running back nine times this season and only once did they surrender 100 yards.

But stopping Lewis will be the ultimate challenge. Tennessee Pro Bowl linebacker Keith Bulluck called Lewis the closest thing to Jim Brown.

"All year, teams have put all their energy into stopping Jamal and haven't stopped him," Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said. "That makes you nervous, but that's going to be the focal point."

Lewis is actually entering the postseason more relaxed.

After finishing the regular season as the NFL's second most prolific single-season rusher, Lewis doesn't have the anxiety connected with chasing any more records.

"Oh yeah, I can breathe again," Lewis said. "That is a lot of pressure off my back, and I can just play football."

Pressure is exactly what the Ravens want to apply on McNair.

Despite being banged up with calf and ankle injuries, McNair is considered more of a threat outside the pocket than in it. He led the league in passer rating (100.4), yards per pass attempt (8.04) and third-down passer rating (117.7).

The Ravens, who rang up a league-best 47 sacks, will be coming after McNair. If linebacker Peter Boulware is sidelined with a knee injury, the biggest threat to harass McNair is Suggs.

"You definitely have to pressure (McNair)," Suggs said. "You've got to frenzy him. It's going to be a task, but I think we can do it."

Baltimore's defense helps its offense as much as it stops opposing ones. In the past two weeks, nine turnovers have paved the way to four touchdowns.

"That's our game," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. "If you go back through this whole year, the games that our defense played at a fast tempo and got turnovers and made a short field for our offense is most of the games that we won."

The prevailing belief among the Ravens is they can be a factor in the playoffs.

"Right now, we're playing at our best," Baltimore cornerback Chris McAlister said. "When you have a team that you can't stop running and you know you're going to have a hard time scoring, you know it's going to be tough to win."

McAlister knows what it takes to win it all. He is one of 12 players left from the 2000 Ravens team that made the Super Bowl as the No. 4 AFC seed.

While the cast has changed, the tradition remains the same.

"You can call it a new era, but the Baltimore Ravens will always be the Baltimore Ravens," linebacker Ed Hartwell said. "We're always going to be old school, run the football and stop the run. You can call us new, but we have the same mentality."

Key stat: The Ravens have won 5 of last 6, averaging 29.8 points per game.

Worth watching: The Titans' Steve McNair led the NFL in passing with a rating of 100.4, with 24 Touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Baltimore's Jamal Lewis led the NFL in rushing with 2,066 yards, second best ever, and averaged 5.3.

Breakdown: McNair has been battling calf and ankle injuries late in the season, but is healthy. Will Tennessee be able to handle Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis (six interceptions) and rookie pass rusher Terrell Suggs (12 sacks)? The Ravens need error-free game from quarterback Anthony Wright, who has played well.

Pick: Titans 28, Ravens 24.

TODAY'S NFC GAME

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Dallas Cowboys (10-6) at Carolina Panthers (11-5)

When: 7 p.m.

TV: ABC 8, 13

Line: Panthers by 3.

Last meeting: The Cowboys won, 24-20, at home on Nov. 23.

Key stat: The Panthers won seven games by three or fewer points.

Worth watching: Carolina's Stephen Davis must run like he did early in the season, when he piled up most of his 1,444 yards.

Breakdown: Can Bill Parcells continue his turnaround of Dallas in the playoffs? If Davis runs strong, he'll be a good test for a No. 1-ranked Cowboys defense. Jake Delhomme runs an efficient Carolina offense.